Skim

Pronunciation

• IPA: /skɪm/
• Rhymes: -ɪm

Origin

From Middle English skimmen

Full definition of skim

Verb

1. (intransitive) To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.
• Alexander PopeNot so when swift Camilla scours the plain,
  Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main.
2. (transitive) To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of.
• HazlittHomer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean.
3. To hasten along with superficial attention.
• I. WattsThey skim over a science in a very superficial survey.
4. To put on a finishing coat of plaster.
5. (transitive) to throw an object so it bounces on water (skimming stones)
6. (intransitive) to ricochet
7. (transitive) to read quickly, skipping some detailI skimmed the newspaper over breakfast.
8. (transitive) to scrape off; to remove (something) from a surface
9. (transitive) to clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying on it, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface.to skim milk; to skim broth
10. (transitive) to clear a liquid from (scum or substance floating or lying on it), especially the cream that floats on top of fresh milkto skim cream

Derived terms

• skim through
• skim over
• skim off
• skimmed milk
• skimmer
• semi-skimmed

Adjective

1. (of milk) Having lowered fat content.

Derived terms

• skim milk